Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her officials will meet with farming organisations' representatives in Connemara, County Galway to brief them on the National Parks and Wildlife Service and her Department's proposals on destocking on the Twelve Bens mountain range in Connemara (details supplied). [6225/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The situation referred to arises under the EU Wild Birds Directive and is accordingly a matter in the first instance for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I understand that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have agreed that all farmers affected by destocking and overwintering measures which are necessary on the Twelve Bens, once the measures concerned have been determined by that Department in discussion with my Department, will be individually notified and invited to attend local clinics where their individual concerns can be discussed.

In the context of Partnership and the agricultural agreement made under Towards 2016, a formal consultation mechanism is in place between my Department, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the farming representative bodies. This facilitates regular consultations with the appropriate bodies in relation to issues involving designated land and the interface between nature conservation and agri-environment.